By CLAIRE WALTERS
Local columnist
January 25, 2009 12:00 am Let's face it: All but the most hard-core of runners in northern Michigan, with its notoriously snowy six-month winter, likely will spend a few runs indoors. Though the treadmill can provide a welcome respite from the lung-burning cold, it presents a choice: The inevitable boredom of a monotonous run versus the bitter winds, knee-deep snow and slippery sidewalks of the outdoors. There comes a point each winter when I feel like one more run on the treadmill might just do me in. With my marathon training schedule requiring a more consistent number of weekly runs than I might otherwise undertake, that point is now -- only slightly earlier than usual. Staring at the same spot on my gym's white cinderblock wall for longer than 30 minutes can be mind-numbing, not to mention dangerous. Whenever my mind starts to wander, my feet inevitably stray toward one side of the belt, and I'm constantly aware that the slightest misstep may result in a Claire-shaped imprint in the wall-length mirror ominously lurking directly behind my treadmill. Who thought that placing a mirror there was a good idea, anyway? As a relative newcomer to Traverse City, I'm still getting used to the sheer volume of snow this area receives and devising strategies to tackle it during training. I've learned some tricks along the way: Strap-on cleats work well on ice but are not especially helpful in any depth of snow. (I try to mentally list the many benefits of resistance training whenever I'm high-stepping through 12 inches of the stuff in soggy socks.) Bike lanes are generally pretty clear, but it's better to run toward traffic. With the right winter-weather wear, including some must-have running tights, even temperatures that hover just over 20 degrees can feel practically pleasant. Most importantly, though, I've learned that a snowy day is not necessarily prohibitive to an outdoor run. Although I sometimes need to re-learn this -- on some days, it's hard enough to find the motivation to run at all, let alone through a blizzard -- the lesson mostly has stuck. That doesn't mean I don't encounter some problems. I often run down Front Street, which is well suited for my 3-mile runs and boasts the only consistently clear sidewalks I can find. Unfortunately, downtown is the area most likely to be clogged with pedestrians. Generally, people are cognizant when a runner is trying to pass them. However, some, who I most commonly identify as out-of-towners, walk in packs at a leisurely pace, taking it all in. Commence what I like to call "the slalom." This process involves the quick but careful wending among groups of slow-moving people, which can become a sort of game. Though bursting through gaps between people may prove startling to some, any groups walking six abreast, blocking the entire sidewalk, are, in my opinion, asking for it. Then there are the mounds of snow that accumulate where the sidewalk meets the road. Is there any way to gracefully clear a waist-high snow bank? I don't think so. However, my least favorite byproduct of an outdoor winter run is a perpetually runny nose. I've seen (and narrowly avoided) the manner in which many runners manage this issue. But for one who eschews the so-called "snot rocket," what is the best way to deal with this indelicate dilemma? So far I haven't found one, apart from a few tissues stuffed into whatever pockets my running gear might contain or a -- gross, I know -- surreptitious wipe of nose on sleeve. Despite these pitfalls, there is definitely something exhilarating about the brisk winter air and the satisfying crunch of fresh snow beneath your shoes. This area provides far too many opportunities for spectacular outdoor running to spend six months of the year inside. Sacrificing comfort for excitement? Maybe I'm more of a hard-core runner than I thought. Marathon filled The Bayshore Marathon and Half Marathon are filled. If any openings occur later, officials will reopen registration online only around May 3rd. Record-Eagle copy editor and first-time marathon runner Claire Walters is chronicling her training experiences in a bi-weekly column as she prepares for the May 23 Bayshore Marathon. Readers also can follow her progress by reading her blog at http://blogs.record-eagle.com. The blog contains her training schedule and log, and she invites advice and comments from other runners.
—
Copyright © 1999-2010 cnhi, inc.
Photos
Claire Walters